Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-22


and she made the grain slip through her fin
gers in golden streams. Why did Annunnata
sob so bitterly! Such pain began to creep
about Francesca's hearth Presently she heard
Annunziata coming up the stairs, sobbing all
the while Francesca's heart throbbed very
fast
Annunziata opened the door and came in
with coffee and hrioche on tray. Her face
was convulsed and her lips twitched She did
not try to hide the disarray of her grief, but
set the tray on a table near Francesca without
a word and turned anu left the room Asshe
shut the door, Francesca stood abashed for
a moment, then she sprang after her and
called in the passages in vibrating voice:
HAnnunziataln
"Signorina, replied the nurse.
"Annunziata, come back cried Francesca,
in all imperative tone. Annunziata followed
Francesca back 10 her room.
"Nunzata, what is the matters Why
don't you speak to me!'
"Ah, signorina, why should | tell you my
sorrow" said the old nurse with moufnful
gentleness. You care no more for us, nor
our joys and woes You drive us away from
You with cold words When | come in here
do not find the dear little angel of old,
ready with a smile and kiss for her old nurse,
but proud, harsh signorina, who has for
gotten ali her faithful friends
"Nunziata, it is you who have been I'M
kind; you have not spoken to me-
"Signorina, how could speak3 If l open
my hEs the siguorina cries, Leave me in
peace Besides, my heart has been weighed
down. These are dark days for the country"
What do you mean, NunZiata" asked
Francesca A swift flash of remembrance
darted through her brain
"Aimel While the signorina has been shut
up alone, taking no part III our troubles,
many hearts have been broken. There have
been soldiers here, soldiers there, Garihaldina
everywhere, and the news of battles, and
every town has widows and orphans, and
mothers weeping for their sons Francesca
was stunned. All this time she had forgotten
the struggles of her country
There was a horrible battle a few DAYS
ago, and much slaughter, Many of our
youth went this morning at daybreak to join
the Garibaidina." AnnunZiata's lips trem-
bled Francesca's heart gave great bound
and then stood still Her lips turned white
Her great eyes dilated with sudden terror
AnnunZata began again. THE signoriua
has told us all that she wishes to die and lie
down below in the little churchyard L care
for nothing, nothing, let me diep cried the
signorina But the Signor Antonio, good,
patient soul, he too cares for nothing now;
nothing for himself The Signor Antonio has
gone to die for his country"
"Nunziatar There was harsh Earring of
pain in Francesca's cry. But Annunziata
went on with touch of that cruelty that
sometimes leaps up in the gentlest creatures
| "Yes, the Signor Antonio wastes no breath
/ on words He has gone to die, and all be
| cause the signorina's soft Italian heart has
| gone away, and another heart come, hard as
| steel, hard as iron, harder than the marble of
! Carrara,'
| "Annunziata, you are a wicked, cruel old
woman" cried Francesca, passionately.
You know that it is not true You know
that Antonio would never have refused the
call of bis country" Her great eyes were
| flashing, shining so brilliantly that her face
seemed TRANSPORTED in the tremuous glow
| AnnunZata thought she WIS more beautiful
than all the saints in heaven. They were both
so wretched and their hearts heat in harmony
of sorrow; but they were also angry and ex-
cited and unforgiving.
"Ah! The signorina is happy to console
herself so easily" Eoaned Annunziata, as she
went away down the large flight Of stairs
This sharp touch of life's reality worked q
change in Francesca. She was pursued by q
haunting uneaSiness for her brother Antonio
She insisted fercey to herself that he wa,
merely brother. The best and kindest Of
brothers-a more faithful slave would never
| hot -lt,ts still br1tb ar nrtIT- ..-at,
down stairs The professore was in his studio
his head bent over a large tome
"Babbo, don't bring any of the student'
here, and then ! will have my dinner witt
you," she said.
Theprofessore looked up with preoccupie,
smile but he stroked the small black head ant
promised obedience.
But somehow, dinner alone with habbO
while Annunzata lowered reproachfull,
near, oppressed Francesca She and babh
never had much to say to each other but nov
she seemed to have list touch Of him alto
gether Some chord that had bound her T.
him had snapped In a tiny world they stoot
wide distances apart Was it that Antonio
with his quick sympathy and gentle tact, hat
revealed these two opposite beings TO on
another and united them in the light of hi
large understandings
Truly there was great void without An
tonic. She never remembered a time whel
he had not filled her life with a sense OF ten
derness and protecting love Yet till he wa
gone she hardly knew he was there Strang
, and inexplicable enigma. 1t all came upo
, her now in the light OF a revelation. II An
tonic never came home again, how little an
empty her life would bel A sharp pang G
renorse suote her, which dulled into gnaw
ing pain As the days dragged by in tbs
shadow of suspense.
She liked now to sit under the shade of TIN
gray green olive trees on the sunny vim
trellised terrace.
She could hear the wind ruStiing in tn
bamboos in the dry ditch 1t was there sh
) used to sit with Antonio on the worn ston
bench and watch for babbo coming bonn
. from his scientific laboratory 1t pleased he
10 linger there in the fragrant stiffness, Will
the lizards crept close 10 her feet with thei
strange bright eyes staring at her out Of lit
tie palpitating bodies. Sometimes Antoni'
had lured a green lizard to crawl on hi
= hand
Kind, faithful Antonio, dearest of brothers
]
4 | life go on as before, reading and singing anl
planting flowers, and laughing with Anuun
4 ziata, as happiest brother and sister, Will
t babbO smiled at them through the amiabl
mists that rose from his dreams of quee
r beasts. But Francesca was troubled at tn
o bottom of her heart, for she knew she wa
- deceiving herself and caressing an idle fancy
= Anto 10 loved her with no brotherly love.
4 Then Francesca was aware Of voices Greer
ing upon the silence The air was broken b
e wandering cries. From the distance role
e sounds of trampling feet They came neare
i and nearer, hurrying along the street, an
/ loud huzzahs burst forth Viva la patria-
It viva la Garibaldi-viva il Re-" Now an
then the wailing of woman rose plaintivel
: amid the joyous shouts Observation-Disclosures
la patria'-
}. Suddenly there was stiffness, and after
space, a shrill scream from AnnunZiat,
Re Francesca sprang to her feet and move
It quickly across the garden The professC
d appeared on the portico with his hair blow
s. about and his eyes scared and starting frol
n under his Shaggy gray brows.
Y "Carina, carina," he suffered, and seizin
:. Francesca's hand he drew her into the lare